Method of controlling steam apparatus



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BY TM G. MASON METHOD" OF CONTROLLING STEAM APPARATUS Filed Oct. 3, 1934 April 2, 1935.

Patented Apr. 2, 1935 METHOD OF C ONTRO APPARATUS L me STEAM Gilmore Mason, YonkersgN. Y., assignor of one- 1 T half to Lyle A. Hall, Scarsdale, N. Y.

Application October a, 1934, SerialN o. 746,698

. 2 Claims.

This invention relates to valve control and has for an object an improved method of regulating the flow of fluid through pipes. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to the operation of .valves and contemplates the provision of an improved method ofqopening andLcIosing valves at prede termined periods. a 1

According to a methodof the invention a steam valve for example, may be opened or closed gradually at predetermined periods. The invention aims to control a steam valve on the main of a central heating system supplyingrsteam to buildings and the like toobtain a cyclic on-and-ofi operation which is. preferably effected by slowly opening andclosing the valve during each cycle of operation. This cyclic .on-and-off operationmay be continued throughoutthe period when heat is required. In the control of the valve supplying steam to a building, theinvention contemplates ,opening the valve gradually inthe morning to enable the escape of water during the admission of the steam and to thereafter maintain it open during a predetermined period to quickly and efiiciently initiate the heating of the pipes, radiators, etc. comprising the heating system. A further object of the method of the invention is to provide, in combination with the gradual opening o f'the valve during the morning, the cyclic operation of gradually opening and closing the valve during the subsequent period whenfheat is required, for example, during the daytime.

The apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention comprises means for gradually opposing and overcoming the force holding a control valve closed. Such means includes a reservoir tank which is gradually filled with water to open the valve and is gradually emptied of water to close the'valve. The. rate at which water is uniformly admitted to the reservoir'tank determines the rate of opening the valve and the rate of discharging water from the tank determines the rate of closing the valve. This combination of gradually filling and gradually emptying the tank completes one cycle of valve operation.

' The apparatus for. carrying out the method of the invention contemplates automatic mechanism for maintaining the tank filled during a predetermined period to keep the valve open and for maintaining the tank empty to keep the valve closed.

"A further object of the apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention is. to provide means for regulating the uniform flow of water into the reservoir tank. A pipe having a fixed orifice isarranged to be submerged variable distances below the surface of a body of water maintained at a desired level. This apparatus accord ingly involves the means for imposing a uniform hydrostatic pressure on the orifice with a,conse-. quent uniform flow of water therethrough.

This invention will be better understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawing in connection with the following description, in i which 7 Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of apparatus whichmay 'be used in oarryingout the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of theorifice' of the apparatus; and j Fig. 3 isa side elevation of the automatic control dial of the apparatus.

-In the drawing, the reservoir tank I, which is made of sheet metal, is shown suspended by the flexible .cable 2 attached to the triangularly spaced. eyes 3. The cable 2 passes over the frictionless pulleys 4 and 5, and is attached to the counter-weighted lever 6 which actuates the .stem l of the control valve 8. This control valve portion of the reservoir tankan extension II is provided for effecting a positive contact, during up and down motionof the reservoir tank, with a guide pipe 12 connectingwith a drainage system IS. A siphon tube I4 is placed within the tank v I and so arranged that the long leg l5 thereof enters the extension II and terminates at a point well below the'bottom of tank I, and the short leg l6 terminates at a point above the bottom of the tank. H The lower portion I! of the leg I6 is flared funnel-like from-a section of considerably less diameter than the leg to a section at the mouth of the funnelof greater diameter than the diameter of the leg. The leg I6 is of larger diameter than the leg IS, the latter'being V and this is provided by the adjustable weights I9 attached to the bottom of the tank by means of a rod.

A clock or constant speed motor 20 attached to one side of the tank I and within the housing 2| operates a dial 22 which rotates once every 24 hours. This dial is divided into a number of segments ,to indicate periodsof the1day. .-Arcuate cam; members"23=sand 24 of largergdiameter than the dial fit over a shaft 25 in the center of the dial and are concentric therewith. These cams are mounted so that they may be rotatably adjusted with respect to the dial"*22-and-arevprovided with slots 25 and 25 through which"the lock nuts 21 enter the dial -to secure thecams in the desired position. Thesegcamsazkandfl overlap and accordingly theiraggregate peripheral surface may be varied. "The'cam28is fas-' tened to one end portion of the cam 24 bytmeans of a bolt 29. r

I'he lever arm-" '30 is pivotally mounted on the bracket 3 l against one'side of the" tank] and projects through-an=elongatedslot32 in the opposite sidether -edf. "The free end of the lever-has-a freely rotatable roller'sleeve"33 mounted thereon-andheld in adjustable position by means of the.- shoulder 34 r and nuts "3 5. A thinrod or wire 7 =86 isconnected to the lever 39and has-atone end a metal ball 31 which fits into a seat in the funnel-=38 on the'pipe 38. The pipe 39 connects with pipei 8'so that when the valve formedwith -theball"3'l and funnel '38 is open, watermay be discharged into the drain I3.

"A lever-M is pivotally mounted on-the' bracket 4I attached to the inside surface-of the-tank I and extends through an elongated 'slot 43 in the oppositesidewall-thereof. This lever, at its free endphas aro tatable sleeve-44 held inadjustable position by-the-shoulder-dE and nut 45. A coil spring 4'lis attached tothe lever-Mat one end and to'an adjustable threaded cap 48 at the upper end of a bifurcatedmember 49 which straddles theleg Iii-of the siphonI5-and carriesat the lowerend thereof aballtil adaptable to-beinserted into the conefIl' *fonthe purposeofshut- 't'mg off the -fiow =ofwater therethrough. The member ''49 -isaccordingly adjustable for length by means of the cap 4 8.

*The'rollers 33 and *44 on the levers 3il'and "40 *respect-ively-arepositioned within the housing 21 in a plane-embracing the axis of rotation of the dial -22 and-directly thereabove. During rotation of the dial the -arcuate cam-members 23 and 24=contactthe-rol1er35 and-raise the lever "3G, thus"cpeni-ng the valve formed'by the ball '51 nesting on the seat of the cone 38. Asthe -rotation continues, a point "is finally reached when the arcuate member 2 5 passes beyond contact with the roller 35, -thus dropping the lever and seatingthe'balld'f-in the cone 38. The cam 28 may -be'so positioned with respect to-the cam 24 that approximately at the time when contact is broken'between the cam '34 and the roller 35, the-cam -28contacts the roller 44, thus raising the same "and carrying with it the lever 50 which raises the ball into the funnel I 'I,-thus closing the same-to thepassa'ge of water. The length 'of peripheral surface of "the member '28, therefore; determines that portion of the day when the valve t is'heldppenbecause water is not permitted tobe removedfromthe tank! by means of the siphon.

l-he supply tank 5! is positioned above 'the reservoir "tank I' and has a ball cook .52. of a typewell' known in-the art, connected to a source of water 53 for the purpose of maintaining a constant level of water therein. The coupling member 5 5 is flanged connected to one side of the tank 5|, and has a copper or other non-corrosible metal tube 55 having a double right angle bend inserted into an opening in the center thereof. The inner portion of the coupling 54 is -.of larger diameter than-tthetube 55=and is threaded to-accommodate'; the threatledssleeve 59 which fits snugly over the tube 55 and against the marking 58, thus forming a watertight gland in which the tube is free to rotate. The tube 55 -projects intothetank 5| and is below the water --level--62. The end portion of the tube 55 that is within the -water tankrfiI has a glass orifice 63 cev.:mented=; into ithe end thereof and as the tube is rotated, the orifice is raised or lowered with respect"to-the surface "of the water. The orifice ,may-sbe'made of porcelain glass or other noncorrosive material and is preferably spherically shaped; at: the endzto minimize" the :accumulation .ohmatter over'thenpening. 1A nipple'fiA is;connected'byfthezmiion-ifi'5' to" thefcoup'lingl5'4 'at :one 'end, i and .to. a"l:66 :at :theotherien'dt-into :which is connected an=open1vent Grand a'water delivery pipe'EB: havingra stopcock 69 ion: the lower :end thereof. The delivery pipe 58 isupositioned with respect :to the reservoir tank I so :that when water is discharged out: of the cock ":59; it 'falls directly into the funnell I 0.

In the :operation of "the/apparatus or the 'invention the tube 55 is rotated in the coupling 54 to obtain a hydrostatic pressure at the orifice $3 of such amount that a uniform :quantity of water, atthe desired predetermined rate, will be discharged through the cook 59 into the funnel 15 and theninto the'reservoir-tank l. By this -means a constant stream "of water "may i be "discharged into the tank 'I.

We-shall assume 'that the reservoir tafik liis empty, 'the valve-'8 closed and the'rollers 35-and it-out of contact with 'the cam-=members' 23, 24 and 28; the ball 31 resting upon the seatof the funnel -38 thus preventing the flow of water through the 'pipe 39 and' 'that the "ball 50- is 'suspended 'below the funnel i-I leaving the same open. The Weights "I5 are *adjusted to set the time ineach cycle when'the valv e'is closed and open. '-For"example,;in a-cycle-of one *hour the weights may'be adjusted so that the valvewill' beclosed or closing for forty-five-minuteS and open or "opening for -fifteen minutes, or,-open or opening forthirty-minutes and closed'or-closing for thirty minutes. With this arrangement of thevarious'parts"ofthe'apparatus, the water 1 commences .to rise in the reservoir 'tank 'I *and when the weight thereofexceeds the-force holding lever'fi downthetank commences to'fall'and open the valve 8. When the water reaches a point just abovethe top of the 'siphon,'it begins 1 to discharge water through 'the leg I5 into the drainage system I3. Byreasontofthe'relatively smaller diameter ofithe pipe I5'than'lthe'pipe I5, thereis a positive siphon action started *whenever 'the'head of water'inthetank I risesabove v is made with the roller 33.

to close it does so at a rate proportional to the rate of rise of the reservoir tank. The weight 19 determines how long the tank 1 remains at the top or at the bottom before the fall or rise, as the case may be, commences.

When the water reaches the bottom of the conical portion ll of the tube I6, the siphon action is broken and the discharge of water from the reservoir tank is stopped. By reason of the great difference in area between the edge of the conical end I! and the restricted orifice where it 'joins the leg l6, a positive interruption in the flow of water through the siphon is effected when the water in the reservoir tank falls to the level of the lower edge of leg 16. A suction action takes place and this results in a positive clear.- ance between the end of the siphon and thewater. At this. stage of the operation the tank i has passed upwardly to its maximum height, 1; e. to a point'which is sufficient to completely close the control valve 8. W

After the discharge of water from the reservoir tank I stops, it commences to fill immediately for the reason that the water is constantly flowing therein from the supply tank 51. As the water commences to rise in the reservoir tank I, a point is reached when it commences to move downwardly, thus raising the lever 6 and opening 'the valve 8 again. This completes a cycle of control valve operation.

When it is desired to interrupt the operation of the control valve, as for example, during the nighttime, the earns 23 and 24 on the dial 22 are set so that at any predetermined time, for example, 6 p. m., contact is made with the roller 33, thus raising the ball 3'! permitting discharge of water through the pipe 39. This prevents the tank from filling and keeps the control valve closed. lhe cam 23 is set with its advancing edge set on a particular time mark on the disc 22 and this determines the time when the contact As has been explained, the aggregate peripheral surface of contact of the cams 23 and 24 may be varied to contact the roller 33 for periods of different duration. Accordingly, the peripheral surface of the cams may be so arranged that they will be in contact with the roller 33 for any predetermined number of hours, as, for example, from 6 p. m. to: 6 a. in. When the predetermined time for opening the control Valve has arrived, the cam 24 rotates beyond contact with the roller 33, thus lowering the lever 30, and the ball 31 seats in the cone 38, thus shutting off the discharge of water from the reservoir tank. The reservoir tank commences to fill and move downwardly, thus opening the control valve, and this action continues until the valve is Wide open, after which the siphon action starts. At this point two: variations in the automatic operation of the valve may be made; first, the siphon action may be permitted to take place as hereinbefore described, in which event the tank is emptied and the regular cycle of operation of opening and closing the valve is commenced and continued, and second, discharge of water from the reservoir tank by means of the siphon action may be interrupted by arranging the cam 28 to contact with the roller 44 and close the entrance to the siphon by raising the ball 50 into contact with the flared end I! of the siphon. The tank I, therefore, fills to the level 10 and overflows into the drain pipe I8. With this arrangement of the apparatus the tank I is positioned to hold valve 8 open. This will permit discharge of steam through the pipe9 to the full capacity thereof for a period determined by the time of contact of the cam 28 with the roller 44. I I

,The valve control apparatus and method of the invention may be adapted to valvesused on any fluid system, for example, steam, water or gas, but are particularly adaptable to the control of steam supplied by a central generating plant. It is extremely desirable to admit steam gradually to a cold system, as when it is first turned on in the morning, because there is a rapid condensation of steam and formation of water, and if steam is admitted too rapidly there is apt to be a pipe hammer set up. Accordingly, the invention overcomes the disadvantages resultingfro-m the sudden admission of steam into a cold heating system by gradually opening the valve during a predetermined period.

It is a well known fact that economies in the operation of a steam heating system may be effected by interrupting the flow of steam thereto.

at regular intervals during thedaytime or other period when heat is desired and the invention,

accordingly, provides an improved and positive 9 means of achieving this end.

Throughout this specificationreference has.

ed and the invention is not to be limited to the specific suspension means illustrated.

I claim:

1. The. method of automatically operating a steam valve controlling the supply of steam from a generating system to a building heating system which comprises slowly opening the valve to initiate the admission of steam to the heating system at the beginning of a period when heat is required in the building, maintaining the valve open independently of conditions in the space to g be heated for a sufficient period to heat the heating system to the required extent, thereafter effecting a cyclic on-and-off operation of slowly closing and slowly opening the valve during the remaining period when heat is required, and then slowly closing the valve and maintaining it closed during a period when heat is not required in the building heating system.

2. In the method of claim 1, effecting the cyclic on-and-off operation of the valve by slowly accumulating and discharging a volume of Water, the weight of the accumulated water effecting the operation of the valve in one direction and the discharge of the Water effecting the operation of the valve in the other direction.

GILMORE MASON. 

